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Henry VI, Part 1 - Act 4, scene 6
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Henry VI, Part 1 - Act 4, scene 6Act 4, scene 6
⌜Scene 6⌝
Synopsis:
Talbot again urges his son to flee and is again rebuffed.
Alarum. Excursions, wherein Talbot’s son ⌜John⌝is hemmed about, and Talbot rescues him.
TALBOT
1992 Saint George, and victory! Fight, soldiers, fight!
1993 The Regent hath with Talbot broke his word
1994 And left us to the rage of France his sword.
1995 Where is John Talbot?—Pause, and take thy breath;
1996 5 I gave thee life and rescued thee from death.
JOHN TALBOT
1997 O, twice my father, twice am I thy son!
1998 The life thou gav’st me first was lost and done
1999 Till with thy warlike sword, despite of fate,
2000 To my determined time thou gav’st new date.
TALBOT
2001 10 When from the Dauphin’s crest thy sword struck fire,
2002 It warmed thy father’s heart with proud desire
2003 Of bold-faced victory. Then leaden age,
2004 Quickened with youthful spleen and warlike rage,
2005 Beat down Alanson, Orleance, Burgundy,
2006 15 And from the pride of Gallia rescued thee.
2007 The ireful Bastard Orleance, that drew blood
2008 From thee, my boy, and had the maidenhood
2009 Of thy first fight, I soon encounterèd,
2010 And, interchanging blows, I quickly shed
2011 20 Some of his bastard blood, and in disgrace
2012 Bespoke him thus: “Contaminated, base,
2013 And misbegotten blood I spill of thine,
2014 Mean and right poor, for that pure blood of mine
2015 Which thou didst force from Talbot, my brave boy.”
2016 25 Here, purposing the Bastard to destroy,
2017 Came in strong rescue. Speak, thy father’s care:
2018 Art thou not weary, John? How dost thou fare?
p.
177
2019
Wilt thou yet leave the battle, boy, and fly,2020 Now thou art sealed the son of chivalry?
2021 30 Fly, to revenge my death when I am dead;
2022 The help of one stands me in little stead.
2023 O, too much folly is it, well I wot,
2024 To hazard all our lives in one small boat.
2025 If I today die not with Frenchmen’s rage,
2026 35 Tomorrow I shall die with mickle age.
2027 By me they nothing gain, and, if I stay,
2028 ’Tis but the short’ning of my life one day.
2029 In thee thy mother dies, our household’s name,
2030 My death’s revenge, thy youth, and England’s fame.
2031 40 All these and more we hazard by thy stay;
2032 All these are saved if thou wilt fly away.
JOHN TALBOT
2033 The sword of Orleance hath not made me smart;
2034 These words of yours draw lifeblood from my heart.
2035 On that advantage, bought with such a shame,
2036 45 To save a paltry life and slay bright fame,
2037 Before young Talbot from old Talbot fly,
2038 The coward horse that bears me fall and die!
2039 And like me to the peasant boys of France,
2040 To be shame’s scorn and subject of mischance!
2041 50 Surely, by all the glory you have won,
2042 An if I fly, I am not Talbot’s son.
2043 Then talk no more of flight, it is no boot;
2044 If son to Talbot, die at Talbot’s foot.
TALBOT
2045 Then follow thou thy desp’rate sire of Crete,
2046 55 Thou Icarus; thy life to me is sweet.
2047 If thou wilt fight, fight by thy father’s side,
2048 And commendable proved, let’s die in pride.
⌜They⌝ exit.